Objective: TO observe the effect of Chinese herbal medicine in treating arthralgia due to Wind, Cold and Dampness (WCD).
　　
Methods: Referring to the Diagnostic Standard for arthralgia revised in the National Academy of Rheumatoid Diseases, April l988, the method of removing Wind, dispersing Cold, getting rid of Dampness and dredging Collateral was applied to the 74 patients diagnosed as Arthralgia due to WCD, by using the recipe containing Rumulus Cinnamomum, Rhizoma Attactylodes, Radix et Rhizoma Clematis, Radix Gentiana Macrophylla, Ramulus Morus, Radix Aconitum Carmichaeli Praeparata, Flos Carthamus, Radix Scutellaria, Semen Coicis, Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygium, etc. The other 30 cases treated with indomethacin were taken as control group. One therapeutic course consisted of l0 days of treatment, and the effect was assayed at the end of 5 therapeutic course.

Result: In the tested group, clinical cure was shown in 59 cases (79.73%), markedly effective in l0 (l3.5l%), improved in 4 (5.4l%) and ineffective in l (l.35%), the total effective rate being 98.65%; while in the control group, clinical cure in 6 (20.0l%), markedly effective in l0 (33.33%), improved in 7 (23.33%) and ineffective in 7 (23.33%), the total effective rate being 76.67%. The comparison between the two groups was different significantly (P<0'0l).
　　
Conclusion: The TCM therapeutic method of removing Wind, dispersing Cold, getting rid of Dampness and dredge Collaterals has good clinical effect in treating arthralgia due to WCD, and is worthy studying further.

By Ye Shaoan, Wen Tianyan.